Day 161: Gary Hawkins
“… when I hear that we’ve made a milestone, that we’ve done something that no one else in our community could do, and we were the dumping ground … for that person and we made a difference, hey, you know – come on – that’s it right there. That’s it.”
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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Gary, for agreeing to be part of the Project today.
Gary Hawkins: Absolutely.
Toni: Well, before we begin can you introduce yourself?
Gary: Sure. My name is Gary Hawkins. I’m the owner of the Griswold Special Care, which is part of a nationwide franchise. I’m located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. I’m the owner of the Berks County office. I’m also the chairperson and cofounder of the Circle of Life Coalition which is a nonprofit. We are dedicated to the education and awareness of end-of-life care. I’m the owner of Boomer Generation Media, Incorporated. I do a lot of Boomer … a radio station on the internet, BoomerGenerationRadio.com, a television show … I’m really involved in the whole boomer, if you will, boomer thing. A lot of boomer stuff going on in our country right now. There’s 72 million of us.
Toni: Seventy-two million – wow!
Gary: Yeah, well actually there’s a number that the U.S. Census Bureau came out with, and it’s right down to 72,356,741 – I have it right here in front of me. How they came up with that number, I’ll never tell you, as of December 31.
Toni: Well thank you for that.
Gary: Absolutely.
Toni: Well so, Gary, when you think about that word inspiration, who do you think you inspire and how do you do that?
Gary: Well, I believe that I inspire people through the work I do. I’ve been involved in caring for others now for 34 years, and as many times as I’ve had the opportunity to go into another field — and some good opportunities, in fact — I’ve always seemed to remain in the human service arena. I believe it’s only because I inspire others through the work I do and particularly the staff people that I have working for me that I believe – and this is not egotistical – but I believe they see in me what energy that exists for helping others in their need.
That is, I think … you know, when you had first asked me this question a couple days ago and I really thought about it, it was like “Yeah, that is what inspires me – helping others and inspiring others to help others; hence, that’s what I’ve done all my life. I had founded a nonprofit back in 1993 in our area. It was a mental health/mental retardation agency that is now the largest in our community.
I left in 2000 to pursue aging care, and in that I look back on it now and I see that organization and how it’s grown, and that was through my inspiration to take $325 and found a nonprofit. So starting off with that and founded a nonprofit with $325 in my pocket. So that was an inspiration, and I felt that was how I inspired others to continue that work.
Toni: When you work that way with others, Gary, and how you inspire others to not only make a difference and to carry on the type of work that you do, by doing that, what do you do then that you think helps them to also explore their potential?
Gary: Well, one is … what I feel I do is that energy that I have that makes them want to educate themselves more. Other organizations, I understand, have a hard time educating their staff. I don’t, because I believe that people feel that real deep down inside, I’m just not here to make a dollar, I’m here to make a difference.
I think there is a difference. In human services, it is … you’re not getting into human services to make a fortune, you’re doing it because you want to help others. But there are a few out there who believe that I’m just here to collect a paycheck, and kind of a drone effect, if you will, and that’s what I’ve always called it, or warm-body syndrome, and that inspiration, I think it’s all related. I think it’s all tied together.
Toni: I would have to agree with you. What I’m hearing from you is that you can help people to explore their own potential in wanting to serve in that particular field, but also if you’re authentic of the passion and purpose together, that is a driver and a motivator.
Gary: Absolutely, absolutely. You know, I’ve done direct care, so I was there and I remember doing it for people who also inspired me. And I pledged back in the eighties that if I ever did this on my own and, you know, God blessed me and allowed me to do that, that I would continue that. I don’t know that I … what’s the word … I walk the talk as well, if you will.
Toni: Right, right. Very, very authentic.
Gary: Yes.
Toni: So what inspires you, Gary?
Gary: What inspires me? As I’ve looked back through the years to see what’s inspired me and what hasn’t, there’s been plenty of what hasn’t. But the biggest thing in my life that I feel gives me that inner feeling that “Yeah, that felt good,” was again back to what I do in my profession. But one step beyond that is doing a lot … it’s one thing to do what you do for a living and get paid for it … that, you know, you’re getting paid for it, so giving beyond that is so crucial and important.
I’m a part of five different area boards of nonprofits that provide services for people in the community from mental health issues, mental health concerns, down to helping teach kids how not to use drugs, and those are all volunteer things that I do to help to give back to my community. And when I hear — as I did this morning at a meeting — when I hear that we are getting back, I mean, we’re actually getting results from what we are doing, and I had something to do with that; that really inspires me. It really … and on the way back home from that meeting I felt “Wow, this feels good.”
Yeah, I get it in my business, but getting it that way also, that inspires me. It inspires me to get up in the morning and to do what I do for a living. I don’t know you that well, Toni, and you don’t know me that well, but if you did know me, you would understand that I’m that kind of person that draws on other people constantly for inspiration – I do. I look for that. Not that I need to be validated by them, far from it, but I enjoy that feeling I get from helping others.
Toni: So it’s almost a sense of community for you.
Gary: Absolutely.
Toni: Right, right; that’s very apparent is that sense of community that you get by being part of these organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives. And then what you get in return is seeing the return on that, getting the residual from that.
Gary: Goodness, yes, absolutely. And there in the mental health association, there are a lot of people who have disabilities that are very difficult to work with. And when I hear that we’ve made a milestone, that we’ve done something that no one else in our community could do, and we were the dumping ground, pardon me, for that person and we made a difference, hey, you know – come on – that’s it right there. That’s it.
Toni: Are there certain tools or, I don’t know, things that you look for you, methodologies, a system that you might use, Gary, that when you’re at a point during the day or in your life where you’re going “Yes, you know, I need to fill my own bucket up here a little bit,” are there things you find yourself consistently reaching for?
Gary: You mean as far as my own inner strength?
Toni: Right, that continues to inspire you?
Gary: I have to be honest, and it’s an old standard that goes way back, back to the days of my grandmother who will turn 102 tomorrow, that … prayer. I have to tell you that, you know, that’s what I believe, if I’m hearing you right, that’s what gives me the strength. Even in my dark times, and believe me I have those, we all have them, it’s prayer. Prayer. Giving, you know, reaching out and asking God for the strength, for the wisdom, for the guidance, and his will. Does that make sense?
Toni: It does make sense, and as part of the Project there’s a learning that’s happening across the world here with everyone coming to those interviews. And it’s not only who you inspire and how but what do you need, and then what do you reach for when you’re looking for that inspiration. So how you answered that question is so important, because there’s other people that will hear this and go “Yeah, I can so relate to that,” whereas someone else it may be meditation or you know, journaling or something like that, so absolutely it makes total sense.
Gary: Right. There is some meditation involved, there is. I don’t always just pray. When I have enough alone time where I can be, pardon me, sealed off from the world and I can have that quiet time, meditation is a part of it. But I have to say prayer is a big part of it, because you can do it any time of the day, week, or Sunday, you know. There’s nothing that says you can’t go into your restroom at your office and, you know, get down on your hands and knees in front of the porcelain throne, if you will, and say, you know, whatever you need to say to reconnect, because it’s easy to get disconnected.
Toni: So when you look at what you’re doing — and not only personally and professionally — in order to continue to do the good work that you do, what do you need and what do you do to continuously explore your own potential?
Gary: One thing is prayer, asking God for guidance, but another thing is to never be closed to ideas and things that come to you. Yeah, many things come to you, and you learn later they’re not feasible, but not just shutting down and closing out every little thing you get in becoming another person.
And there are people there unfortunately in the world who just … they have no ideas because they come to believe that there’s no way they can make them happen. And believing that you can make them happen, that there are things there that will … forces beyond you that will make it happen if it is to be, and I’ve done that all my life. I followed my dream in so many ways that my dream came true. Am I answering your question?
Toni: Yes, you are; yes, you are. And it’s interesting, too, because you are very secure in what your purpose is, and a lot of people seek a lifetime, you know, of wanting to know what their purpose is, and it sounds as though you’re very secure in what yours is.
Gary: Absolutely. I had a good friend of mine years ago say “You know, you’ll know someday when you’ve found yourself.” In many ways, I think I have. Of course, I think it’s a constant day in and day out endeavor to search for that real person, but hey, the search is on, and it’s been on, and I’ve never said no to opportunities that present themselves that really feel good, like this is going to work.
Toni: Well, I’ll tell you, I cannot thank you enough, Gary, for taking the time out of such a busy schedule that you have to be part of the Get Inspired! Project today.
Gary: Thank you, Toni.
Toni: And to be able to share with people in your interview the absolute conviction and commitment to your purpose of serving others and to be of service has come through loud and clear in this interview.
Gary: Well thank you. My pleasure.
Toni: You can hear that in the difference, so thank you so very much.
Gary: Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me do this today. This has been great.
Toni: You’re welcome. Take care, Gary.
Gary: You too.
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For more information about Gary Hawkins: www.BoomerGenerationRadio.com
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